Container with molded digital disk holder

ABSTRACT

A container with an interior and a neck finish has a recessed pocket on an exterior side of a sidewall for snap fitting a digital disk thereon. Opposing flanges at the periphery of the pocket snap fit the disk in place in a generally vertical orientation.

The field of this invention relates to plastic containers, and more particularly a plastic container retaining a digital disk such as a compact disk, a DVD, mini-disk or MP-3 disk.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Blow molded plastic containers, commonly referred to as plastic bottles, are extremely popular and are made in a variety of sizes and variations. Plastic containers have long been labeled with print applied directly on the container or with labels applied to the container. While labels have long been used, they are limited to fixed visual print, limited in the amount of print and graphics that can fit onto its square area, and are easy for someone to counterfeit.

Digital disks have been developed in many different formats and are referred to with many different terms, such as compact disks, DVD, mini-disks, personal compact disks, and MP-3's. Digital disks provide for either, or in combination, audio, still video and motion video. The disks provide much information in a small flat package. Digital disks may have anti-copy devices built therein that prevent unauthorized duplication to provide further assurance to the consumer that what he purchases and used is the authentic product. Furthermore, the top side of the disk may have visual graphics such as traditional label information.

What is needed is a digital disk and container combination that has a removable disk that, when played on an appropriate machine, may provide a wide range of entertainment, promotional, or informational material such as ingredients or instructions. What is needed is a container with a removable digital disk that when played provides video instructions for visually illustrating the proper uses of the product. What is needed is a container configured to retain the digital disk in a displayed vertical position on the side of the container such that label information on the exterior side of the disk is visible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a container has a molded plastic body defining an interior with an open neck finish and having a closed sidewall. The sidewall has an exterior face constructed to snap fit with an inner and/or outer periphery of a digital disk. In one embodiment, an outwardly extending boss is constructed to snap fit into a central aperture of a digital disk and retain the disk thereon.

It is preferable that the sidewall about the boss be substantially flat to allow the digital disk. when snap fitted on the boss, to be in proximity near the sidewall.

In another embodiment, the sidewall has two opposing integral flanges sized to snap fit to the outer periphery of a digital disk and retain the disk. Preferably, the sidewall between the opposing flanges is recessed to form a pocket which has an arcuate wall extending from the flange to laterally retain the digital disk.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a container has a molded plastic container body defining an interior with an open neck finish and has a sidewall. The sidewall has an exterior face with a recessed pocket. The pocket has a peripheral geometry for receiving an digital disk such that at least a portion of the digital disk is recessed with respect to an outer surface of the sidewall adjacent to the pocket. A retainer within the pocket and integrally molded with the sidewall engages and holds a digital disk in the pocket. A digital disk is secured within the pocket by snap-fit engagement with the retainer. Preferably, in some embodiments, the retainer includes opposed internal bead segments within the pocket for engaging an outer periphery of the disk. Preferably, the pocket has sidewalls to laterally affix the digital disk when snap fitted to the sidewall. In another embodiment, the pocket has a center boss to extend through a central aperture of the digital disk to laterally affix the digital disk when snap fitted to the sidewall.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a plastic molded container has an interior and an open neck finish with a sidewall. The exterior surface of the sidewall is constructed to engage and removably retain a digital disk in a generally vertical orientation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference now is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container housing a digital disk in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view illustrating the digital disk separated from the container;

FIG. 3 is a front plane view of the container and disk shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 illustrating the recess pocket and its sidewall;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 7-7 shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 illustrating the snap fit bead and flat pocket wall section;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 10 illustrating the pocket and central boss; and

FIG. 12 is a cross section view taken along lines 12-12 shown in FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, a container 10 has a molded body 12 with a self-standing base 14, and a neck finish 16 which provides entry to a defined interior 18 and may be closed by a closure (not shown). The molded body has a closed sidewall 20. The molded body 12 and closed sidewall 20 may be molded in a variety of configurations with differing contours. A pocket section 22 on the exterior surface of the sidewall 20 is configured to be substantially flat. The upper and lower edges 24 of the pocket have integrally molded opposing beads 26 or opposing flanges for snap fitting a digital mini-disk 30 with two straight peripheral edges 32 and two rounded peripheral edges 34. When snap fitted in place, the peripheral edges 32 sit in a groove 27 behind the beads 26 as clearly shown in FIG. 4. The disk 30 has a central aperture 36 therethrough with a defined inner periphery 38.

The pocket section 22 has an outwardly extending boss 40 near its center to receive and extend through the aperture 36 of the min-disk 30. The boss 40 affixes the disk 30 against lateral movement when snap fitted into the beads 26. As shown in FIG. 4, the beads 24 and grooves 27 affix the disk 30 against upward or vertical motion as well. The snap fit provides that the disk is not separated from the container 10 during normal jostling of the container but will allow separation if a person pries the disk away from the pocket. The sidewall is contoured such that the pocket blends smoothly under the straight edges 32 of the mini-disk as shown in FIG. 2 to keep the side edges 32 exposed and in proximity to the sidewall 20. Because the side edges 32 remain exposed, a person may grab the disk by the side edges 32 and lift the disk with enough force to release the disk 30 from the beads 26.

Another way to separate the disk 30 from the pocket 22 is to rotate the disk about 90° such the arcuate periphery disengages from the flanges 26 and the straight edges 32 stand opposed to and separated a distance from the grooves 27. The disk is then merely lifted off the boss 40. If the rotation is undesired, the bottle may have optional bosses not shown which engage against the straight edges 32.

An alternate embodiment is shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. In this embodiment, the central boss 40 is eliminated. Lateral movement of the disk is prevented by the recessed arcuate walls 44 extending on each end of the bead 26. The arcuate walls 44 taper and end where the straight edge 32 is positioned. Rotation of the disk may be optionally prevented in the same fashion as described for the first embodiment.

A third embodiment is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. In this embodiment, the bead 26 follows a top and bottom wall 46 of the pocket 22 without the contour shown in FIG. 6. The disk can be removed by laterally sliding to the left or right out of the pocket in addition to being snap fitted in and out of engagement with the beads 26.

A fourth embodiment is shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12. In this embodiment the beads 26 are eliminated and replaced by a central boss 48 which has a peripheral bead 50 of an enlarged diameter. The central boss 48 with the bead 50 snap fits and engages the inner periphery 38 about the central aperture 36 of disk 30. The disk 30 can be disengaged by lifting the exposed edges 32 or 34 and lifting the disk 30 away from wall 20.

The central boss 48 provides for both the snap fit engagement of the disk and the retention against lateral movement. Arcuate walls 44 may also still exist when the pocket is recessed and can prevent lateral movement. If rotational movement is undesired, a boss of the same character as described for the first amendment may be placed on wall 20 to prevent rotation.

In all above embodiments the disk is retained in a generally vertical orientation. The outer surface 31 of disk 30 may have conventional labeling which is oriented for display on the container 10. The digital tracks are located in the protected undersurface 33 which is in proximity to wall 20 but may remain slightly spaced therefrom.

Variations and modifications are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 

1. A container comprising: a molded plastic body defining an interior with an open neck finish and having a sidewall, and said sidewall has an exterior face constructed to snap fit with an inner and/or an outer periphery of a digital disk.
 2. A container as defined in claim 1 wherein said sidewall has an outwardly extending boss constructed to snap fit into a central aperture of a digital disk and retain said disk thereon.
 3. A container as defined in claim 2 wherein said sidewall about said boss is substantially flat to allow said digital disk, when snap fitted on said boss, to be in proximity near said sidewall.
 4. A container as defined in claim 1 wherein said sidewall has two opposing integral flanges sized to snap fit to the outer periphery of a digital disk and retain the disk therein.
 5. A container as defined in claim 4 wherein said sidewall between said opposing flanges being substantially flat to allow said digital disk when snap fitted in place to be in proximity near said sidewall.
 6. A container as defined in claim 5 wherein said sidewall between said opposing flanges is recessed to form a pocket which has an arcuate wall extending from said flange to laterally retain said digital disk.
 7. A container as defined in claim 1 wherein said sidewall having a flat section to be in proximity near said digital disk when snap fitted in place.
 8. A container comprising: a molded plastic container body defining an interior with an open neck finish and having a sidewall, a pocket in an exterior face of said sidewall having a peripheral geometry for receiving an digital disk such that at least a portion of said digital disk is recessed with respect to an outer surface of said sidewall adjacent to said pocket, a retainer within said pocket and integrally molded with said sidewall for engaging and holding a digital disk in said pocket, and a digital disk secured within said pocket by snap-fit engagement with said retainer.
 9. As container as defined in claim 8 wherein said retainer includes opposed internal bead segments within said pocket engaging an outer periphery of said disk.
 10. A container as defined in claim 9 wherein said pocket has sidewalls to laterally affix said digital disk when snaps fitted to said sidewall.
 11. A container as defined in claim 9 wherein said pocket has a center boss to extend through a central aperture of said digital disk to laterally affix said digital disk when snap fitted to said sidewall.
 12. A container as defined in claim 8 wherein said retainer includes an outwardly extending boss within said pocket for snap-fit within an inner periphery of said disk.
 13. A container comprising: a molded body defining an open neck finish, a base and a vertically oriented sidewall, said sidewall having an exterior surface constructed to engage and removably retain a digital disk in a generally vertical orientation. 